Abstract
The stabilization and application of expansive geomaterials are critical in geotechnical engineering. These naturally expansive materials exhibit complex hydro-chemo-mechanical properties because they undergo volumetric changes in response to variations in moisture content and/or temperature. The characteristic shrink-swell behavior of these materials makes their use problematic and plays a substantial role in influencing the stability of geo-infrastructure applications. However, there is a lack of comprehensive knowledge of the mechanisms and factors impacting their behavior to ensure mechanical integrity in natural and built infrastructure and geo-engineering projects. This work provides a comprehensive review of the intrinsic and extrinsic factors contributing to the shrink-swell behavior and expansion mechanisms of frost-heaving and natural-expansive geomaterials, such as expansive clays and sulfate minerals. We reviewed and synthesized peer-reviewed published works in various databases and academic repositories in the last 100 years. The influence of shrink-swell behavior of these geomaterials and the critical role they play in engineering infrastructure were highlighted, explicitly focusing on their involvement in geotechnical-related hazards, such as the freeze-thaw cycle, and the damage and sulfate-attack of geo-infrastructure. We analyzed the interactions between clay minerals, especially how bentonite enhances grout stability and acts as a buffer material in high-level nuclear waste repositories. The findings indicate that water interaction with geomaterials and concrete can cause about a 10% volume expansion when frozen. Also, the exposure of fractured rocks to low (≤0°C) and high (>0°C) temperatures can greatly change rock deformation and strength. Finally, gypsum interacting with water can theoretically increase in volume by 62% to form ice crystals. This forward-leading review presents the advantages, disadvantages, and unresolved issues of expansive natural geotechnical materials that improve the resiliency and sustainability of geological infrastructure.
1 Introduction
Natural expansive geomaterials are essential to geotechnical engineering due to their unique properties during the construction and reinforcement of surface, near-surface, and underground infrastructure. These natural expansive materials exhibit complex hydro-chemo-mechanical properties, and their use poses a threat because they undergo volumetric changes in response to variations in moisture content and/or temperature.
These geomaterials often exhibit a freeze-thaw behavior, and their expansion and shrinkage mechanism can be detrimental to geo-infrastructure. Geo-infrastructure refers to infrastructures built on or around geomaterials (rocks and soils) on the surface, near-surface, and deep underground environments that support human activities. The inherent volume change characteristics of naturally expansive materials can lead to cracking and deformations (i.e., failures), which play a substantial role in influencing the stability and geotechnical-related hazards, especially in slopes (Qi and Vanapalli, 2015), underground tunnels (Schullera and Schweiger, 2002), structures (Liu et al., 2016), wellbore (Zhang et al., 1999), and in underground mining (). The problematic results associated with these materials have led researchers to address innovative approaches to mitigate geomaterials' freeze-thaw cycles and shrink-swell behavior, especially in cold regions in our dynamic, fast-paced age. The typical contributing factors that result in the volume change of these materials are the variations in temperature, moisture content, pressure, and chemical reaction, and the details are: (i) the soil and rock masses undergo freeze-thaw cycles because of temperature variations, and these cycles cause phase transitions between water and ice, as the volume of ice is greater than that of water, which may induce the volume expansion; and (ii) some natural soils and rocks contains mineral constituents that could cause volume expansion owing to water absorption and this are the clay minerals and sulfate minerals.
Generally, frost-heaving behavior in geomaterials is one of the leading causes of damage to geo-infrastructure in cold climates, especially in the winter season (). The freeze-thaw settlement of structures on soft clay significantly impacts the geotechnical characteristics of soft soils in cold regions (Konrad and Morgenstern, 1980; ). Also, the seasonal and alternating temperatures can cause freeze-thaw cycles in soil and rocks, disturbing engineered underground infrastructure and resulting in potential hazards. Frost heaving varies based on humidity and soil conditions, which can result in non-uniform deformation of railway and highway subgrade constructed on permafrost (). Geo-infrastructure projects built in freeze-thaw geomaterials are one of the most prevalent challenges in the world (Matsuoka, 2001). mentioned that rocks can uptake water during slow freezing, and thus, for frost damage, high initial water content is unnecessary. Consequently, the implications of frost heaving on geotechnical practices in cold regions have been investigated by several researchers. Michaud and Dyke, (2008) discussed the mechanism of bedrock frost heave in permafrost regions, emphasizing the potential threat it poses to engineering design stability.
Shi et al. (2020) analyze the influence of soil frost heaving on the internal force and displacement of foundation pit supporting structures. focused on the frost-heaving characteristics of hydraulic tunnel wall rock in cold regions, emphasizing the spatial distribution and variation of frozen areas and frost-heaving forces. Low temperatures, especially below-freezing points, significantly affect surrounding rock stability in rock engineering projects. Prolonged exposure to negative temperature and freezing conditions alters the deformation and intensity of fractured rocks (Wang and Zhou, 2018). As a result, in the study of rock tunneling in cold regions, the occurrence and expansion of the frost-heaving temperature have been addressed to prevent and reduce frost damage. Studies have shown that the temperature at the entrance section of tunnels is significantly affected by the colder air both inside and outside the tunnel during the cold season, consequently making it the main area susceptible to freezing damage (Yu et al., 2019; Zhou et al., 2021). Zhang et al. (2022) reported that the decrease in temperature in the tunnel causes the freezing of water, and the volume expansion damages the tunnel structure further, causing other forms of freezing damage. This highlights the critical role of low temperatures in driving freezing damage. Furthermore, freezing damage to tunnel foundations encompasses various aspects, including failures in the drainage system, snowmelt and ice formation on roadcut surfaces, foundation seepage, and icing issues (Li et al., 2022).
Natural expansive geomaterials cause many problems in geo-engineering and vary significantly in volume; thus, they expand as they absorb water and shrink as they evaporate (Pooni et al., 2019). Natural expansive geomaterials (expansive soils) are common worldwide, covering about 33% of Sudan, 20% of Indonesia and India, 12% of Syria, and approximately 6% of China (), and their existence severely slows down geotechnical projects and causes long-term stability problems (). Several researchers have discussed the inter-particle swelling and intercrystalline expansion mechanism of expansive soils and pointed out that the economic losses due to the alternating shrinkage and expansion behavior of these materials outweigh the damage caused by natural disasters (). found that cyclic swelling and shrinkage of expansive clays can result in changes in their expansive behavior and microstructure. Lajurkar et al. (2013) highlighted the damaging effects of alternate swelling and shrinkage on structures built on expansive soils. Phanikumar and Singla, (2016) discussed the problems posed by expansive soils and explored the efficiency of fiber reinforcement in reducing swelling and shrinkage. Muthukumar and Shukla (2019) explained that the swelling decreased slightly with an increase in fiber content, while shrinkage significantly decreased with the addition of fibers.
Comparatively, sulfates cover a significant portion of the Earth’s surface, making them a crucial area of interest for researchers due to their significance in both geological and environmental contexts. The diverse nature of sulphates and their widespread distribution demands thorough investigation to understand their implications and effects on geo-systems. highlighted that sulphates cover a significant portion of the Earth’s surface, including coastal salt lakes, sabkhas, and salt lakes in different regions. Tarragona, (2014) discussed the expansion mechanisms of sulphated rocks and soils, emphasizing the role of gypsum precipitation in discontinuities, which can lead to swelling strains and geo-structural damage. Maio et al. (2014) investigated the natural occurrence of sulphates in groundwater, suggesting that gypsum formations associated with specific carbonate rocks are the predominant source of sulphates in a particular area. Samborska et al. (2013) studied Triassic carbonate aquifers in Upper Silesia, Poland, and found that sulphate sources included sulphide weathering and gypsum dissolution. focused on sulfide minerals in hydrothermal deposits, which play a crucial role in concentrating metals and triggering the deposition of valuable metals through the precipitation of less economically significant sulfides. These studies represent a diverse range of investigations into sulphates and shed light on their geological significance, expansion mechanisms and natural occurrence on earth.
The behavior of expansive soils, sulfate attack, and freeze-thaw cycles can influence the volumetric expansion of cement structures. Over time, the shrinkage and expansion of expansive soil can cause foundation movement, cracking, and structural damage (). Sulfates can penetrate concrete and react with calcium hydroxide and hydrated calcium aluminate to form expanding compounds that can cause cracking, spalling and loss of structural integrity (; Mamun and Bindiganavile, 2011; Min et al., 2019; Othman et al., 2020; Zhang et al., 2021; Tian et al., 2023). Freeze and thaw cycles can create internal stresses within the concrete and lead to structural damage and failure (Valenza and Scherer, 2007; ).
The objective of this study is to comprehensively review the expansion behavior and mechanisms of natural expansive materials and frost-heaving behavior in geo-infrastructure. Further, this study will provide an innovative review of: i) the relationship between several potential underlying factors, including moisture content, temperature, and pressure contributing to the volume expansion and shrinkage variations of natural expansive materials; ii) consequences of material expansion and shrinkage for mitigating these challenges in geotechnical engineering, and iii) ongoing efforts to enhance the resilience and sustainability of geo-engineering practices in the face of variable natural expansive material behavior. The rest of the paper is organized as follows: i) Section 2 introduces the swelling-shrinkage behavior of expansive natural materials, and Section 3 covers swelling-shrinkage mechanisms of natural expansive materials; ii) Section 4 focuses on the impact of freeze-thaw cycles and sulfate exposure on the durability of natural and built infrastructure, and Section 5 presents the significance and implications of natural expansive materials in geotechnical engineering applications, and iii) lastly, these sections will be followed by the conclusion section and future research direction section.
2 Swelling-shrinkage behavior of expansive natural materials
2.1 Frost-heaving materials in geotechnical engineering
Many types of soils and rock masses show frost-heaving behavior during the freeze-thaw cycles because of temperature variations when they contain water. Generally, frost heaving occurs in the northern hemisphere (cold regions) countries like America, Canada, Russia, and the Nordic regions e.g., Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and Greenland (; Prince et al., 2018) (Figure 1A), and its influence is a problem of national concern since it delays many engineering projects (Taivainen, 1963). The effect of frost heaving causes a lot of damage to geo-structures, such as pipelines (Oswell, 2011), subgrades (Wu et al., 2018), foundations, tunnels, etc.
FIGURE 1
The prevalence of seasonal freezing and thawing in the northern hemisphere has far-reaching implications with more than half of the northern hemisphere’s land area (Figure 1A) (Prince et al., 2018). Within this vast region, a significant portion, precisely one-quarter as well as 17% of the Earth’s exposed land surface is characterized by permafrost, where the ground remains frozen at or below 0°C for a minimum of two consecutive years (
In locations such as Svalbard, northeast Greenland, and the highest mountainous zones throughout the Nordic area, permafrost is slightly colder but still just a few degrees above freezing (
Extensive research on frost-heaving has been conducted since the early 1990s till date. Taber (1930) and Taber (1929) explored the frost-heaving mechanisms such as the growth of ice lenses in soil. Mu and Ladanyi, (1987) developed models that integrated stress-strain behavior, heat, and mass transport to estimate frost heave. Matsuoka (1990) focused on measuring frost-heaving strains in rocks, observing the influence of surface area on freezing expansion (
Frost heaving is primarily affected by factors such as temperature and pressure, and the details of each factor are expressed below. However, it is important to recognize that the study of this phenomenon requires a comprehensive understanding of multiple contributing factors (Lu et al., 2021). The change in volume resulting from the freezing of water and the subsequent melting of ice serves as the fundamental trigger for soil deformation within a freezing-thawing environment. Periodic frozen soil is susceptible to temperature variation (Niu et al., 2017; Niu et al., 2017; Lin et al., 2018), and the cyclic pattern of freezing and thawing of soil significantly affects soil strength.
In rock mass, as the freezing temperature decreases, the unfrozen water film thickness between the rock and the ice decreases, leading to an increase in disjoining pressure (
TABLE 1
| Geographic distribution | Location | Frost susceptibility and implications | References |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Hemisphere and Arctic Regions | Canada and Alaska: Prairie Provinces (Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba), Ontario, Quebec. | Long, harsh winters in cold climates, frost-susceptible soils, and large areas of permafrost and seasonally frozen soils pose enormous challenges to the environment and infrastructure. These conditions cause soil instability, impact road and building construction, and affect local ecosystems adapted to freeze-thaw cycles. Water management becomes critical as frozen ground blocks drainage and affects groundwater recharge rates. | Wynn (2006), Stewart et al. (2019), |
| Russia: Siberia, Russian Far East. | |||
| Scandinavia/Nordic regions: Norway, Sweden, Finland, Faroe Islands, Denmark, Iceland, Greenland and Svalbard. | |||
| Temperate Zones | United States: Northern states (Minnesota, Wisconsin, Maine, Michigan, New York); | Moisture-retaining soils during cold winters experience freezing and wetting conditions. The frost-susceptible soils swell and shrink during freeze-thaw cycles, causing significant challenges. In the case of geo-infrastructure, ground movements can cause cracks and instability in buildings and roads. From an environmental perspective, these conditions can damage habitat and soil health, affecting biodiversity and changes microbial activity in soil that affect nutrient cycling and ecosystem. | |
| North Africa: Tunisia, Morocco, northern regions of Egypt, Libya, Algeria, and Western Sahara. | |||
| Southern Africa: the southern tips of Madagascar, Mozambique, the entire territories of Eswatini, and Lesotho, southern parts of Botswana, Namibia and the great part of South Africa. | |||
| Europe: Northern and Central Europe (Germany, Poland, United Kingdom); | |||
| Northern Middle East: northern United Arab Emirates, northern Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Turkey. | |||
| Asia: Northern China, Japan (Hokkaido) | |||
| High Altitude Areas | Rocky Mountains: High elevations in the US and Canada | Cold temperatures and soil moisture cause valleys and areas of standing water to freeze, especially in cold climates where soils are susceptible to frost, posing unique challenges such as cracks in infrastructure, and the environment. Environmental impacts include damage to local ecosystems, particularly those adapted to harsh mountain climates. | |
| Alps: European Alpine region (Monaco, France, Switzerland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Austria and Slovenia). | |||
| Himalayas: High-altitude regions (Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, northern India, Pakistan) |
Geographic distribution of frost-heaving materials and implication on geo-infrastructure.
Freezing can generate high pressure when water is constrained to prevent expansion. This phenomenon can also affect the physical and mechanical properties of rocks. Taber, (1929) and Taber, (1930) mentioned that under atmospheric pressure, when a definite amount of water is cooled, it freezes at 0°C with an expansion in volume at about 10%. Also, in soils,
Based on the analysis made, it is recognized that freeze-thaw cycles (temperature variations) and pressure control rock heave and settlement in the foundation when little or no water-ice phase change is involved. Also, the volumetric expansion of frozen water (ice) and the melting of pore ice cause heave in wet geomaterials, which in turn affect the concrete structure and underground space engineering.
2.2 Expansive natural materials in geotechnical engineering
Various types of natural soil and rock masses exhibit a volume expansion behavior. The natural expansive minerals can be divided into two types: i) clay minerals, mainly montmorillonite, illite, or kaolin. Montmorillonite clay will expand significantly as the volume increases, while illite and kaolin clay will have limited expansion. The typical expansive geomaterials which contain montmorillonite are mud rock and bentonite, etc. ii) The other one is the sulphate minerals such as gypsum, anhydrite, calcium thenardite, and anhydrous thenardite. These two types of expansive minerals expand because of the reaction with water.
2.2.1 Clay mineral expansion behavior
Expansive clay minerals are prevalent geomaterials that exist in various regions worldwide, including both humid and arid/semi-arid regions, with their primary mineral constituent being dispersed layered silicate (
Experimental research in soil mechanics suggests that moisture content, volume increase, swelling pressure, expansion time, surface area, mineral composition and pore morphology are the factors that contribute to the extensive shrink-swell behavior of most expansive clays. The volume of expansive clay minerals tends to increase as they absorb additional water, which is observed in approximately 90% of clays (
Several test results suggest that the swelling pressure increases with respect to decreasing initial water content. However, swelling pressure increases with increasing initial dry density at a controlled initial water content. These trends can either be linear or exponential, according to different research studies (Komine, 2004; Rao et al., 2004; Tu and Vanapalli, 2016). Meanwhile, Tu and Vanapalli (2016) reported that the swelling pressure increase can be attributed to the increased interaction between clay particles due to closer packing. Further, the swelling pressure of clay minerals is primarily affected by their average specific surface area. A larger surface area leads to greater surface forces, which causes significant changes in volume and swelling pressure (
On the contrary, it has been recognized that mineralogical composition is an influential factor since different clay minerals have different microstructures in nature (Madsen and Müller-Vonmoos, 1989;
Pore morphology substantially influences the swelling behavior of clay minerals (Sarman et al., 1994). experimented on the pore morphology of clay minerals and concluded that the swelling phase did not only relate to the clay mineral type, but also to the pore morphology. It was found that samples with large pore volumes combined with a high percentage of small-sized pores exhibited high swelling potential. The swelling characteristics of various bentonites with different montmorillonite contents with expansion development time, volume expansion rate, water content, and restricted pressure are summarized in Table 2.
TABLE 2
| Soil/rock | Clay mineral content % | Expansion time (hr) | Volume expansion ratio % | Water content % | Restricted pressure kPa |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bentonite (Komine, 2004) | Montmorillonite 48 | ∼15–70 | ∼6–360 | 13.8 | ∼6–941 |
| Bentonite (Komine, 2004) | Montmorillonite 69 | Over 150 | ∼10–250 | 13.1 | ∼10–2032 |
| Bentonite (Komine, 2004) | Montmorillonite 80 | ∼1–15 | ∼16–120 | 29.5 | ∼10–2098 |
| Bentonite (Komine, 2004) | Montmorillonite 76 | ∼10−150 | ∼15–180 | 25.6 | ∼10–2040 |
| Bentonite (5%) (Komine and Ogata, 1999) | Montmorillonite 48 | ∼5–30 | ∼46–77 | 19.4 | ∼21–36 |
| Bentonite (10%) (Komine and Ogata, 1999) | Montmorillonite 48 | ∼15−44 | ∼67–90 | 17.6 | ∼31–43 |
| Bentonite (20%) (Komine and Ogata, 1999) | Montmorillonite 48 | 144 | ∼117–235 | 17.0 | ∼56–112 |
| Bentonite (30%) (Komine and Ogata, 1999) | Montmorillonite 48 | ∼144−648 | ∼209–375 | 14.6 | ∼100–180 |
| Bentonite (50%) (Komine and Ogata, 1999) | Montmorillonite 48 | 720 | ∼350–585 | 17.5 | ∼167–280 |
Swelling characteristics of various bentonites with different montmorillonite contents.
2.2.2 Sulfate mineral expansion behavior
Sulfate minerals are abundant and cover about 25% of the constituent of Earth materials and are also found on other planets (
The formation of ettringite [Ca6Al2(SO4)3(OH)12·26H2O] in soils, is a type of sulfate attack that occurs due to the reaction between sulfate, calcium, and alumina-bearing stages in the presence of water (Figure 2) (
FIGURE 2

Schematic of ettringite formation: (A) ettringite’s chemical structure, (B) columnar formation of ettringite, (B) existence of aluminum and calcium polyhedral [modified after (
The expansion behavior of sulfated rock formations is more significant than clay or marl rocks when involved in near-surface and underground tunnel excavation (
FIGURE 3

Gypsum crystal growth: (A) expansion of gypsum crystal within a rock vein, (B) gypsum crystals after opening with hands [modified after (Tarragona, 2014)]; and (C) Gigantic gypsum crystals in Naica’s Crystal Cave (Chihuahua, Mexico) [modified after (Van Driessche et al., 2019)].
Gypsum is susceptible to rapid dissolution upon contact with water; as a result, its availability causes the spontaneous collapse of individual caverns and migration of voids, eventually leading to subsidence of the overlying ground surface (Yılmaz, 2001). When gypsum acts as a cementing agent, the dissolution of the cement can result in the breakdown of the soil structure (
Zanbak and Arthur (1986) discussed the mechanism of hydration expansion and deformation of anhydrite rock, and the study showed that the molar volume of anhydrite increases after water absorption, and the volume expansion could be 62.6%. Madsen and Müller-Vonmoos, (1989) carried out theoretical and experimental studies on the microscopic scale from the perspective of mineralogy on the interaction between clay particles, anhydrite, and gypsum crystal.
Rauh and Thuro (2007) performed powdery swelling tests, thin slice analysis, electron microscope scanning analysis, x-ray diffraction, and specific surface area analysis on gypsum rocks in three different places, and reported that swelling is related to the crystallinity of CaSO4, the larger the crystal size, the smaller the expansion capacity.
The analysis suggests that when the sulphate minerals absorb water, the moisture content in gypsum increases, which causes swelling and when the moisture content decreases, it shrinks, leading to structural cracks in civil engineering and other construction works.
3 Swelling-shrinkage mechanism of natural expansive materials
3.1 Frost-heaving expansion mechanisms
The expansion mechanism of frost-heaving soil arises from the interaction between three frost actions: water supply, frost-susceptible soil composition, and temperature as the primary factors (Taber, 1930; Penner, 1959;
Freeze-thaw cycles are common in soils due to fluctuating temperatures. When soil layers freeze, pore water movement is transferred from unfrozen areas to negative regions, which leads to the expansion of the soil’s volume and the development of negative pressure (
FIGURE 4

Frost heave mechanism in susceptible soils: (A)In-situ freezing, (B) ice crystals’ expansion, and (C) continuous heaving of ice crystals in soils. Modified after (Schreiber, 2014).
This process subsequently contributes to additional ice volume expansion, ultimately leading to frost heaving at the base of the soil. (
FIGURE 5

Schematic diagram of expansive soil freezing showing freezing expansion from (A) lower saturation to (C) higher saturation; and freezing shrinkage from (B) higher saturation to (D) lower saturation. Modified after (Lu et al., 2018).
Clay particles form aggregates that control macropore space, while elementary clay particles regulate the micropore distribution within the aggregates, creating dual porosity. When soil with higher saturation freezes (Figure 5C), the pores between aggregates expand due to the growth of ice lenses, resulting in the compression and rearrangement of soil aggregates. Low-temperature suction forces the water within the aggregate out, which causes drying-induced shrinkage (Lu et al., 2018). This compensatory shrinkage is insufficient to balance the expansion of the growing ice, resulting in an overall increase in soil volume. In contrast, under lower saturation conditions (Figure 5D), the volume expansion of water between the aggregate and ice is contained by the air present in the pores.
In rock mechanics, the presence of joints and fissures significantly affects the geological stability of a rock mass, especially in fractured rock mass, where they play a pivotal role. As the strength of rock is impacted by these discontinuities, the properties of jointed rock are particularly susceptible to the influence of ice within these joints during freezing temperatures (Wang and Zhou, 2018). The frost heave of a rock mass is subject to various factors: temperature, rock frost susceptibility, surrounding rock grade, porosity, and external water supply conditions (Wang et al., 2016a). Joint water in its free state condenses by undergoing a phase change to ice due to negative temperature, exhibiting an expansion coefficient of 9% (Wang et al., 2016a). The water freezing within rock joints initiates a volumetric expansion of the joint filling. This expansion is constrained by the surrounding rock mass, leading to an increase in frost-heaving pressure as a result of the phase transition. If this pressure exceeds the rock mass strength, the jointed rock will fracture and break apart as shown in Figure 6. Given a homogeneous rock medium, the frost heaving ratio is the relationship between volume increment and the original rock volume. This ratio is affected by the 9% volume phase transition process, influencing the rate of frost heave as shown in Eq. 1 (Wang et al., 2016a):where is the frost heaving ratio, is the volume increment of the frost heave, and is the volume of the original rock.
FIGURE 6

Conceptual volume expansion of ice in a fractured rock mass (A) freeze-thaw cracking process of fractured rock mass [modified after (
Additionally, when a rock is exposed to negative temperatures and freezing conditions for a long time, the deformation and intensity properties of the fractured rock mass change greatly. Such occurrences pose threats to constructions such as tunnels, shafts, storage caves, and other infrastructure (Luo et al., 2015; Wang and Zhou, 2018)
In contrast, the above analysis shows that the frost heaving in geomaterials does not promote water flow, causing high hydraulic conductivity. As geomaterials freeze, their porosity decreases and restricts capillary flow. This phenomenon can prevent water ingress from forming ice lenses that cause volume expansion of the geomaterials, resulting in an uplift at the surface. On the contrary, the freeze-thaw process of these natural expansive materials makes it difficult to control water movement in the underground support environment.
3.2 Expansion mechanism of natural geomaterials
3.2.1 Expansion mechanism of clay minerals (montmorillonite)
The expansion of the interlayer space in clay minerals is due to the hydration energy forces associated with the interaction of the particles (
FIGURE 7

Schematic illustration of expansion mechanism of montmorillonite minerals: (A) Intergranular expansion, (B) Lattice expansion. Modified from (Tuller and Or, 2003).
The intergranular expansion is mainly caused by the absorption of water in the aqueous medium by the surface of the clay particles under the effect of electrostatic attraction, which results in the expansion of the soil or rock due to the increase of the thickness of the combined water film (Figure 7A). The expansion of the crystal layer (lattice) occurs when there is a change in the expansive mineral under the action of water or in a humid environment. Water enters the mineral either by becoming an inherent part of the mineral composition or by occupying the spaces within its crystal lattice structure (Tuller and Or, 2003), which causes the mineral volume to expand significantly (Figure 7B). This phenomenon makes it difficult to control water movement in foundations and underground support environments.
3.2.2 Expansion mechanism of sulfate minerals
The mechanism that leads to the expansion of sulphate minerals is primarily attributed to the evaporation-based and gypsum precipitation through an aqueous solution in the presence of anhydrite (Tarragona, 2014).
The evaporation-based mechanism requires a boundary that interacts with an atmosphere of lower relative humidity than the water potential in the soil or rock. Alternatively, the rate of evaporation and the gypsum solubility also affect this mechanism. The evaporation rate controls moisture removal, while the limited solubility of gypsum restricts the amount that can be dissolved. Nonetheless, the extent of precipitation is constrained by the combined effects of low solubility and controlled evaporation rates. The limited precipitation primarily occurs on or near the evaporation surface, rather than within the volume of the geomaterial and, therefore, initiates a small mass of precipitated gypsum (Tarragona, 2014;
Gypsum precipitation through an aqueous solution with anhydrite can lead to larger volumes of gypsum formation, posing greater engineering risks compared to evaporation-based mechanisms (
In practical terms, the excess hydrated gypsum can be transported in an aqueous solution or precipitate within available voids in rocks. This action can exert pressure on the rock mass and push it apart, while potentially triggering the expansion of discontinuities and inducing swelling strains (Figure 8) (
FIGURE 8

Conceptual model for gypsum precipitation. Source: (Tarragona, 2014).
4 Impact of freeze-thaw cycles and sulfate exposure on the durability of natural and built infrastructure
4.1 Damage mechanism of freeze-thaw cycles in cemented structures
The primary mechanism of freeze-thaw damage in cemented structures is described by both the hydraulic pressure theory and the osmotic pressure theory, and both mechanisms are attributed to concrete deterioration (Powers, 1949; Powers, 1975;
According to Powers and Darcy’s law, the hydraulic pressure theory explains the effects of low temperatures on concrete (Powers, 1949; Powers, 1975). When concrete is exposed to low temperatures, the outer layer of the concrete freezes first. This freezing causes the liquid water within the concrete to migrate through capillary pores due to the volume differences between ice and liquid water. Precisely, ice occupies a greater volume than liquid water, creating a differential pressure that drives the migration (Valenza and Scherer, 2007;
FIGURE 9

Hydrostatic pressure and osmotic pressure mode: (A) Hydrostatic pressure principle (Zeng et al., 2010), (B) Osmotic pressure model. Modified after (Sun et al., 2019;
Studies have discussed the osmotic pressure theory, which involves specific salt ions in concrete (Powers, 1949; Powers et al., 1953; Powers, 1975;
To mitigate cracking in concrete due to freeze-thaw cycles, an effective method will be to reduce hydrostatic pressure by decreasing the spacing between pores. This may be accomplished through the use of air-entraining agents, which introduce tiny air bubbles into the concrete mix. These air bubbles create additional space in the concrete that can accommodate the expanding ice, thereby reducing the overall pressure and preventing damage. For instance, in regular concrete, the pressure exerted by the freezing water causes the concrete to expand in volume. Nevertheless, in air-entrained concrete, the presence of micro-pores created by the air-entraining agents allows the ice to form within these spaces, leading to a contraction rather than expansion (Sun and Scherer, 2010).
4.2 Impact of sulfate attack on cemented structures
Concrete deterioration occurs due to sulfate ions reacting with hydrated cement composites in pore solution, leading to expansion and corrosion in geo-infrastructure (Figure 10), and this reaction forms expansion phases like gypsum and ettringite, as well as corrosion types such as calcium alumina, magnesium sulfate complex, and carbon-sulfur calcium silica stone corrosion (
FIGURE 10

Sulfate attack in cemented structures: (A) Macro cracking due to sodium sulfate attack leading to boundary movement [modified after (Yin et al., 2022)], (B) Experimental analysis of sulfate attack [modified after (Liu et al., 2022)].
Basically, sulfate attack in concrete involves physical and chemical reactions (
Water serves as a carrier that allows sulfate ions to infiltrate the concrete matrix over time. This infiltration is further heightened by wetting and drying cycles, which can occur naturally or as a result of environmental conditions such as temperature and water table fluctuations. At higher temperatures, water travels at a faster rate along with sulfate ions, which accelerates the chemical reaction between the sulfate and the hydration products of the cement (
During sulfate attack, particularly assuming sodium sulfate as the sulfate source, the following chemical reactions (Zuo et al., 2012;
Gypsum formation : when sulfate intrudes into concrete, it reacts with the concrete hydration products, such as calcium hydroxide and calcium silicate hydrate ) to form (Zhu et al., 2023). The chemical reaction formula as shown in Eq. 2 (
Ettringite formation : when gypsum reacts with calcium aluminate phases, such as Monosulfate , Tricalcium aluminate ), Hydrogarnetto etc. in concrete components, the reaction will result in the formation of ettringite (Zhu et al., 2023). The chemical reactions formula as presented in Eq. 3 (
The reaction process of these compounds causes concrete expansion, and microcrack formation, and facilitates the entry of harmful ions, accelerating concrete damage.
5 Significance and implications of natural expansive materials in geotechnical engineering applications
5.1 Significance and implications of frost heaving in geomaterials
Frost heaving, a critical geotechnical concern in cold regions, causes structures built on geomaterials to uplift due to freezing temperatures. It alters soil and rock properties by impacting load-bearing capacity, weakening their strength integrity. This poses a serious threat to both surface and underground geo-infrastructures like tunnels, foundations, pipelines, roads, etc., and, however, necessitates a profound understanding of accurate design and mitigation for geotechnical considerations and engineering practices. Table 3 provides a comprehensive summary of the freeze-thaw cycle effects on expansion materials, highlighting their factors and implications in geotechnical engineering.
TABLE 3
| Category | Region/Context | Factors/Conditions | Implications | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freeze-thaw effects | Northern Hemisphere (cold regions: America, Canada, Russia, Nordic regions) | Temperature variations, presence of water, soil type | Frost heaving delays engineering projects; damage to pipelines, subgrades, foundations, tunnels | |
| Permafrost | Northern Hemisphere (e.g., Canada, Russia, Nordic regions) | Temperatures at or below 0°C for at least 2 years | Ground remains frozen, impacting infrastructure stability | |
| Frost penetration | China (Tibet, Xinjiang, Qinghai) | Low temperatures (below 0°C), extensive frozen soil distribution | Ice in fractured rock mass causes instability during thawing. | Liu et al. (2017), Wang et al. (2016b) |
| Frost depth variation | Finland | Regional temperature differences, glacial soil types | Frost reaches different depths in southern and northern regions, causing boundary marker to shift from their original position. | Taivainen (1963) |
| Soil deformation | Various regions with seasonal freezing | Temperature variation, soil moisture content, clay content | Soil deformation due to freeze-thaw cycles affecting the strength. | Lin et al. (2018), Niu et al. (2017), Niu et al. (2020), |
| Frost Heave in rock mass | Cold regions | Freezing temperature, rock frost susceptibility, water supply conditions | Increased frost-heaving pressure can result in surface cracking and jointed rock mass fracturing, which increases the risk of rock falls and landslides. | |
| Hydraulic and osmotic pressure theories | Cemented structures | Low temperatures, capillary pore water migration, ice formation | Concrete deterioration due to freeze-thaw cycles | Powers (1949), Powers (1975), |
| Mitigation strategies | Cemented structures | Use of low water-to-cement ratio mixes and air-entraining agents to introduce tiny air bubbles, applying melamine-formaldehyde coatings to concrete reduces water absorption and protects against freeze-thaw damage, using high-quality aggregates that are durable and resistant to frost action. | Reduction of hydrostatic pressure and cracking in concrete | Sun and Scherer (2010), Yeon and Kim (2018), Liu et al. (2024) |
Summary of freeze-thaw effects of natural expansive material and their implications in geotechnical engineering.
Further, in cold weather, especially during negative temperatures, the expansion of ice within fractures acts like a stabilizing agent that binds the fractured rock mass together and enhances its stability as well as any structure adjacent to or within it. This phenomenon is often referred to as frost wedging. In the context of underground openings such as tunnels or mines, the presence of ice filling the fractures can provide additional support and reinforcement to the surrounding rock mass. It helps maintain the structural integrity of the openings and minimize the risk of collapses or instability. In frost-susceptible soils, natural rubber latex (NRL) can significantly improve durability against the adverse effects of wetting and drying (w-d) cycles in cement-stabilized soil, particularly when subjected to cyclic tensile loads (Udomchai et al., 2021;
5.2 Significance and implications of expansive natural geomaterials
Natural expansive geomaterials with high shrink-swell potential play a crucial role in geotechnical engineering. These materials exhibit unique properties that can significantly affect infrastructure stability and environmental concerns. Therefore, this section discusses the significance and implications of clay minerals and sulfate minerals in geotechnical engineering, drawing upon relevant research and findings.
5.2.1 Implications of using clay minerals
Clays have complex structural properties, including their small-sized expansive surface areas, which control the solid soil fraction’s reactivity, act as water reservoirs in soils, and maintain plant-friendly moisture levels in hot and dry environmental conditions (Villiéras et al., 1997). Clay minerals are widely used in geotechnical engineering as impermeable barriers and underground seals due to their low hydraulic conductivity, which effectively retains fluids and prevents the rapid convective transport of various leachates from waste disposal sites (Villiéras et al., 1997; Met and Akgun, 2015). However, swelling clays pose risks in geotechnical engineering projects due to stability concerns (Villiéras et al., 1997). Understanding the properties of clay minerals and their relationship and interaction with water is critical to characterizing clay material applications. One effective approach to addressing these issues is the chemical grouting method, which involves injecting materials such as lime, cement, and silica fume into the soil. This method has been extensively studied and has been shown to improve soil stability, reduce permeability, and enhance load-bearing capacity, making the soil more suitable for supporting structures (Zhao et al., 2014; Puppala and Pedarla, 2017;
In addition to the use of clays as soil barriers, several clay minerals have useful applications in geo-infrastructure. Bentonite is particularly known for its low permeability, which makes it ideal for certain geotechnical applications. For instance, it is used for its high cation-exchange ability, allowing effective binding and retaining ions making it useful for soil stabilization and geo-infrastructure projects (Klik et al., 2022). When bentonite absorbs water, it hydrates and swells, forming a stable gel structure that enhances its adsorption capacity. The resulting swelling pressure creates a dense structure that fills capillary pores and effectively seals fractures, cracks, and void spaces, thus preventing the migration of radioactive materials over long periods (Komine, 2004; Liu et al., 2019; Klik et al., 2022). Bentonite enhances grout waterproofing and strength, prevents bleeding, and forms a low-permeability hardened material purposely for sealing groundwater inflow and reinforcing fractured rock (Peila et al., 2011;
Ensuring consistent quality of bentonite clay is critical, but challenging due to natural variations in its composition. Variations in mineral content, particle size and moisture content can affect its swelling characteristics and performance. This requires strict quality control measures, including periodic testing and characterization of bentonite batches, to ensure consistency and reliability in engineering applications (Kiviranta and Kumpulainen, 2011; Svensson et al., 2017; Magnus et al., 2020). Under changing environmental conditions, bentonite buffer can undergo physical and chemical changes over an extended period that can affect its performance as a sealant or barrier material, especially in geological repositories. Factors such as chemical interactions with surrounding materials, changes in temperature (high temperatures) and humidity, specific pH and salinity conditions, and microbial activity can reduce its performance. In nuclear and geotechnical engineering, long-term durability is an important issue, specifically for applications such as nuclear waste containment, where materials need to maintain their integrity for thousands of years (Kolstad et al., 2004; Laine and Karttunen, 2010; Mazzieri et al., 2017). Table 4 summarizes the geotechnical applications of bentonite, highlighting its high cation exchange capacity and low permeability which make it effective for soil stabilization and geo-infrastructure projects.
TABLE 4
| Category | Conditions | Significance | References |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bentonite clay minerals | Small particle size, low hydraulic conductivity, stability under certain temperatures, and moisture interaction | Bentonites particularly serve critical roles in geotechnical applications, primarily as impermeable barriers and sealing materials. They control soil reactivity, act as water reservoirs, and stabilize ground conditions. | Villiéras et al. (1997), Met and Akgun (2015), Klik et al. (2022) |
| Applications of Bentonite | High cation exchange capacity and swelling pressure, and long-term durability | Bentonite is used for its low permeability and high cation exchange capacity in geo-infrastructure projects such as soil stabilization, landfill liners, and nuclear waste repositories. | Komine (2004), Klik et al. (2022), Liu et al. (2019), |
| Challenges and Considerations | Quality control measures, environmental factors (temperature, pH, salinity, microbial activity), long-term durability | Ensuring consistent quality of bentonite is crucial for reliable performance in engineering applications, especially under changing environmental conditions and long-term use in nuclear waste containment. | Magnus et al. (2020), Kolstad et al. (2004), Mazzieri et al. (2017), Laine and Karttunen (2010) |
Summary of bentonite applications in geotechnical engineering.
5.2.2 Implications of using sulfate minerals
Gypsum is extensively used in geotechnical engineering for diverse purposes such as embankment and subgrade backfill material, cement additive, building material, treatment agent for expansive soils, and soft soil reinforcement (Shen et al., 2012; Rashad, 2017;
Relatively, recycled gypsum’s positive impact on soil stabilization is evident through its influence on various engineering and environmental factors, including compaction characteristics, consistency, strength, deformation, compression, shear, expansion properties, and long-term durability in the past decades (Pu et al., 2021). However, the number of comprehensive studies exploring the efficiency of gypsum in soil stabilization remains relatively limited, with notable contributions from researchers (Yilmaz and Civelekoglu, 2009;
Table 5 provides a summary of various natural expansive materials, highlighting how their expansion behavior can affect geo-infrastructure. The analysis indicates that clay mineral expansion, influenced by factors such as moisture content and volume increase, leads to shrink-swell behavior and can cause significant damage to foundations. Sulfate mineral expansion results in structural heave in tunnels and bridges. Additionally, sulfate attack in cemented structures causes concrete expansion and deterioration through reactions with hydration products like gypsum and ettringite.
TABLE 5
| Category | Conditions | Implications | References |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clay mineral expansion | Moisture content, volume increase, swelling pressure, mineral composition, and pore morphology influence shrink-swell behavior. | Expansive clay minerals are heterogeneous and cause damage like cracked foundations, pavements, and floor heaving. | |
| Sulfate mineral expansion | Formation of ettringite, gypsum precipitation through evaporation or aqueous solutions, and solubility dynamics influence expansion. | Sulfate minerals (e.g., gypsum, anhydrite) expand due to ettringite formation, causing structural heave in tunnels and bridges. | |
| Impact of Sulfate attack in cemented structures | Sulfate ion availability, moisture content, temperature fluctuations, and exposure duration influence concrete degradation. | Sulfate attack on concrete causes expansion and deterioration through reactions with hydration products (e.g., gypsum, ettringite). |
Summary of natural expansive materials and expansion behavior in geo-infrastructure.
6 Conclusion
This paper reviews the intrinsic and extrinsic contributing factors and significance of natural expansive materials and their impact on geo-infrastructures. Additionally, this work emphasizes the critical role these materials play in engineering practices, with a particular focus on their involvement in geotechnical-related hazards, such as freeze-thaw cycles, damage, and sulfate attack in underground cemented structures, as well as their applications in geotechnical engineering. The following deductions were made:
i. Frost heaving is prevalent in the Northern Hemisphere, Arctic regions, temperate zones, and high-altitude areas. In these geographical locations, when a significant amount of water within the geomaterials and concrete structures freezes, they can expand by approximately 10% of their original volume. This expansion can enlarge fractures and void spaces in geomaterials and concrete structures during the thawing process, which can contribute to structural instability in these regions.
ii. The freeze-thaw cycle is influenced by variations in temperature and pressure. In rock mechanics, prolonged exposure of rocks to low temperatures (≤0°C) and high temperatures (>0°C) can lead to significant changes in the deformation and strength characteristics of fractured rock masses. Additionally, when pressure decreases, soil tends to expand, while increasing pressure causes soil to shrink. Therefore, it is recognized that freeze-thaw cycles make it difficult to control settlement in geo-infrastructure and rock heave in underground space engineering.
iii. Expansive clay minerals (notably montmorillonite) are widespread in both humid and arid regions which pose significant geotechnical hazards, surpassing damages caused by natural disasters. The expansion mechanism of clay minerals, driven by hydration energy and water absorption into interlayer spaces and crystal lattices is complex which makes it difficult to control water movement in underground excavation and foundation engineering.
iv. Bentonite is being explored as a buffer material in high-level nuclear waste repositories for storage due to its unique swelling and sealing properties to provide a safer containment and isolation of radioactive wastes over extended periods in deep underground environments. Also, bentonite provides a reliable substitute for cementitious materials in geo-infrastructure and can enhance grouted rock stability, waterproofing, and rock strength, in addition to contributing to soil stabilization.
v. Sulfate minerals, particularly gypsum, interact with water, resulting in a theoretical 62% volume increase while transforming into ice crystals. This transformation process can fill rock discontinuities. Moreover, the formation of these ice crystals exerts pressure on the surrounding rock, causing heaving and potentially leading to geo-infrastructural damage.
vi. Sulfate attack in concrete structures and geo-infrastructure involves a chemical reaction between sulfate ions and hydrated compounds, leading to expansion, corrosion, and the formation of gypsum and ettringite phases. The expansion of sulfate minerals is influenced by evaporation-based precipitation and anhydrite-aqueous solution mechanisms, making it crucial to assess risks and implement mitigation strategies for geological and engineered structures.
7 Future research directions
This review highlights several key areas for future research, particularly in understanding the frost-heaving behavior in rocks, clay minerals, sulfate minerals, and concrete structures, as well as the shrink-swell behavior and expansive mechanisms in geomaterials within geotechnical engineering. Extensive studies have explored frost-heaving mechanisms, considering factors such as ice lens growth, stress-strain behavior, temperature, pressure, and load conditions. Critical elements in this complex process include moisture content, temperature variations, and cyclic freezing-thawing patterns. However, to achieve effective engineering design practices, key research gaps related to expansive materials should be prioritized in future studies:
i. Frost heaving in tunneling and rock engineering is a significant concern due to its impact on rock mechanical integrity, driven by pressure changes during freezing and thawing. However, the mechanisms of frost heaving in deep underground rock openings remain poorly understood and warrant further investigation.
ii. There is a knowledge gap regarding how the expansion, shrinkage, and chemical reactions of sulfate minerals in geomaterials and cemented infrastructures can induce significant reinforcements under varied loading and environmental conditions. The influence of expansive natural materials on geo-infrastructures can be profound, often resulting in foundation cracks, structural tilting, and compromised integrity. Repairing damage caused by expansive natural materials can be costly and time-consuming, necessitating proper site assessment and engineering solutions.
iii. Expansive soils also impact the environment, causing soil erosion, sedimentation in water bodies, and altered groundwater flow patterns. To mitigate these effects, geotechnical engineers should implement strategies such as moisture control, proper drainage, moisture barriers, and foundation designs that accommodate soil movement by using experimental, numerical modeling, and field investigations.
iv. Ongoing research using emerging technologies to better understand natural expansive materials and their interactions with water, which cause shrink/swell behavior should be investigated through advanced soil and rock testing methods, predictive models, numerical modeling, and microstructural characterization. These approaches will enable geotechnical engineers to predict material behavior, identify internal mechanisms, and develop strategies to minimize the impact on geo-infrastructure, resulting in safer and more resilient construction.
v. Strict measures must be tailored to ensure that building codes and regulations, which include comprehensive guidelines for construction in regions susceptible to expansive soils and freeze-thaw cycles, are strictly adhered to. These measures are crucial for safeguarding the safety and structural stability of buildings and infrastructure.
Statements
Author contributions
FO: Conceptualization, Formal Analysis, Methodology, Writing–original draft, Writing–review and editing. OK: Project administration, Supervision, Validation, Writing–review and editing.
Funding
The author(s) declare that no financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
Publisher’s note
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article, or claim that may be made by its manufacturer, is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.
Nomenclature
| Gypsum | |
| Anhydrite | |
| sodium sulfate | |
| sodium metasilicate | |
| gypsum formation | |
| calcium hydroxide | |
| calcium silicate hydrate | |
| ettringite formation | |
| tricalcium aluminate | |
| monosulfate | |
| hydrogarnetto | |
| the frost heaving ratio | |
| volume increment of the frost heave | |
| volume of the original rock |
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Summary
Keywords
geomaterials, expansive clay, frost-heaving, sulfate minerals, soil improvement, geotechnical engineering
Citation
Oppong F and Kolawole O (2024) Reassessment of natural expansive materials and their impact on freeze-thaw cycles in geotechnical engineering: a review. Front. Built Environ. 10:1396542. doi: 10.3389/fbuil.2024.1396542
Received
05 March 2024
Accepted
04 July 2024
Published
25 July 2024
Volume
10 - 2024
Edited by
Fei Wang, Tarleton State University, United States
Reviewed by
Menglim Hoy, Suranaree University of Technology, Thailand
F. E. Jalal, Shenzhen University, China
Jinhu Song, University of Texas at San Antonio, United States
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© 2024 Oppong and Kolawole.
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*Correspondence: Oladoyin Kolawole, oladoyin.kolawole@njit.edu
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